Pre-Professional Programs

Preparing students for post-baccalaureate programs and degrees

The pre-professional program is designed for students interested in careers in veterinary medicine, human health care (medicine, dentistry or optometry) or allied health care (physical therapy, occupational therapy or physician’s assistant). This program also prepares students for further study in a variety of post-baccalaureate programs leading to advanced degrees (M.S. or Ph.D.).

Veterinary medicine offers the traditional options for practice in small animal or large animal medicine as well as careers in lab animal medicine, wildlife conservation and animal welfare. Pre-veterinary studies are designed to offer students the benefit of multiple disciplines, with the ability to major, minor and take cross-departmental courses to hone in on studies specific to their interests.

Students choosing to study medicine, dentistry or optometry are able to work in private practice, serve as advocates for public health, conduct research, teach or travel with international health and relief organizations.

The allied health professions, including physical therapy and physician’s assistant, are growing rapidly and becoming high demand. Physical therapists provide an individualized, hands-on approach to patient care and work with physicians and patients to develop a plan of care that promotes the ability to move, reduce pain and restore function. Physician assistants are health care professionals who practice medicine as part of a team with physicians to deliver a broad range of medical and surgical services, such as performing physical exams, diagnosing illness and prescribing medications, counseling on preventive health care and assisting in surgery.

Admission requirements for the majority of professional and graduate schools include a strong foundation in biology, chemistry, math, physics and behavioral sciences, and these pre-requisites can be fulfilled with your academic degree from DelVal. Additionally, the Experiential Learning Program affords pre-professional students the opportunity to work with veterinarians, physicians and other health care professionals to gain clinical experience, which is necessary for admission to most professional programs.

Members of the DelVal faculty serve as academic advisors and will guide students through the process of applying to graduate or professional schools. Working with their academic advisors, students can choose from a diverse selection of specialized courses to tailor their program based on their area of interest.

• Pre-veterinary students can take courses in anatomy, physiology, small animal science, large animal science, wildlife management, clinical pathology, and pathology and disease.
• Students interested in pursuing human health care or allied health can take courses in human anatomy, human physiology, histology, embryology, immunology, and behavioral sciences.
• Students interested in scientific research can do so under the guidance of a faculty mentor.

About DelVal

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